About Leonard Freed

Famous for his photos of the American Civil Rights Movement, Freed also covered Poland, Asian immigration in England, North Sea oil development, and Spain after the fall of Franco. Born in Brooklyn, New York, to working-class Jewish parents, Freed photographed Jewish communities throughout Europe, including Made in Germany (1965), which documented postwar Germany. “Ultimately photography is about who you are,” Freed once said. “It's the seeking of truth in relation to yourself. And seeking truth becomes a habit.” His work frequently explored societal violence and racial discrimination. He joined Magnum Photos in 1972, and also shot four films for Japanese, Dutch, and Belgian television.